Derrick



Sept. 2, 1952 E. ALEXANDER 2,509,180

DERRICK I Filed June 25, 1948 5' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nmsrr [5 ALL'XA/I/DBQ Sept. 2, 1952 E. L. ALEXANDER DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1948 r O t. N 9 v n 3 Gttomeg Sept. 2, 1952 E. ALEXANDER DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 23, 1948 Suventor NOE/P [/vmsrr [5 ALEXA Cittomeg Sept. 2, 1952 E. 1.. ALEXANDER 2,609,130

DERRICK Filed June 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 "N" N v 'iaasaifiae. 3292 fnmrr 1:5 AM'XANDER WWYW Gttorneg Patented Sept. 2, 1952 DERRICK Emmett Lee Alexander, Enid, kla., assignor to The George E. Failing Supply Company, Enid, Okla, a corporation of Oklahoma Application June 23, 1948, Serial No. 3%,800

This invention relates to a derrick or mast adapted for use in connection with portable drilling rigs and particularly suitable for mounting on a truck or similar chassis.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a strong, light-weight construction wherein the loading is substantially equalized on the respective legs of the derrick.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a derrick with a simple and efficient crown block structure which permits a pulley arrangement to promote equalization of loads on the derrick legs and which keeps a wide spread on the tackle cables to maintain stability of the traveling block and prevent twisting of the lines; to provide a crown block for the derrick having a pulle arrangement which permits placement of the sand pulley tangentially with the'axis of the hole to be drilled; to provide a crown block havingportions overhanging front and rear sides of the derrick; to provide for free action of the tackle cables; and to provide an open face derrick wherein the crows nest or platform at the top of the derrick is utilized as a structural part for supporting and distributing loads acting on the derrick.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the crown block with a simple and efficient cover for enclosing the pulleys and which may be readily moved out of position to facilitate reaving of the tackle cables and inspection of the pulleys and their bearings.

It is also an object of the invention to provide rollers to guide the cables used in effecting make up and breaking of the joints.

In accomplishin these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the-preferred formof which is'illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. lis aperspectiveview of the lower portion of the mast constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the mast mounted on the chassis of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the mast particularly illustrating the crown block and crows nest."

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper portion. of themast taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the linedi of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the crown block frame showing the pulley arrangement. I

Fig. 6 is across section through the derrick particularly illustrating the platform of the crows nest.

' Referring more in detail to the drawings:

7 Claims. (Cl. 254139.1)

l designates a derrickconstructed in'accordance with the present invention and which is adapted for mounting on a truck chassis 2. The mast includes front and rear corner legs 34 and 56 that are preferably formed of tubes. The side legs 35 and 4-6 are interconnected alongthe height thereof by horizontal girts l and 8 and diagonal braces 9 and Hi. The rear legs 5 and ii are also interconnected by horizontal girts H and intermediate sway braces l2. The legs are spaced apart at the lower end to provide a substantially wide footing for the front legs and the rear legs are pivotally mounted on a bracket it which extends transversely across the platform of the chassis and on which the derrick is adapted to pivot from a reclining position for transportation to the erect position shown in the drawing. The bracket structure includes vertical members l4 and I5 connected by a cross member E6. The cross member l6 cooperates with the platform I? of the chassis to mount vertically positioned laterally spaced rollers [8 for a purpose later described. The front of the derrick, that is, the side as viewed toward the end of the truck chassis is open between the front legs to provide an open faced derrick in which tackle mechanism including a traveling block I9 is adapted to operate so that it is in position over the center of the hole to be drilled when the drilling unit is in operation.

In order to reinforce the derrick and compensate for the open side thereof, horizontal girts at selected levels are interconnected by a truss structure 2!] including brace members 2! and 22 connecting central portions of the rear girts II with the front legs of the derrick as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The members 2| and 22 are interconnected out of the path of the traveling block by a tie member 23 extending in parallel relation with the rear girts. The brace members 2! and 22 are also connected adjacent the ends of the member 23 by members 24 and 25 which connect with the rear legs of the derrick. It is thus obvious that the lateral stresses tending to how the front legs outwardly are restricted by the horizontal truss structures and that a substantially rigid though light weight structure is provided. 7

The upper ends of the derrick legs mount channel members 26 and 21 that are secured at their ends to the upper ends of the legs 3-5 and 46 respectively so that they do not interfere with the open front face 28 of the derrick or with the operation of cables at the rear side of the derrick as later described. Mounted on the channel members 26 and 21 is a crownblock frame 29 including side rails 30 and 3| connected at the ends by front and rear rails 32 and 3'3; The side rails 30 and 3| are of such length that the front and rear portion of the frame overhangs the front and rear sides of the derrick as indicated at 34 and 34.

The crown block frame also includes a transverse rail-member $135 that is spaced from .the front rail member 32 to provide a pulley orsheave pocket 36 therebetween. The frame also includes rails 31 and 38 which extend parallel with the side rails 30 and 3| and connect the rear rail .33 with the transverse rail 35 to provide laterally spaced pockets 39, 40 and 4|.

Rotatably journalled in suitable .bearingsmarried by the rails 32 and 35 is a pulley or sheave 42 which rotates in a transverse planeoffsetforwardly from the front face of the derrick as best shown in Fig. 3. Similarly mounted in: thegpockets 39 and 4| are similar pulleys or sheaves 43 and 44 -.-which: rotate onlanaxis transverse to thelaxisrof the pulley 42-.and are spaced therefrom so .that

:tension of-thecenter line ofthe hole being drilled, ithatiis, the vertical rruns 4.6, 41,48 and 49 of a :tackle cable .50 when positionedin thegrooves of -the pulleys-are equally-spacedfromthe extended axis ofthe borehole so that the travelingblock (operates directly overthe borehole and the load :egually distributed on the respective runs of the: cable. In -order that the runs of-the cable .may be substantially perpendicular, the pulleys iinot ishown) of'the'travelingblock 19 are of a diameter corresponding to the-diameter of the :pulleyAZ-and :thespacing between the pulleys 43 .and 44. .The traveling block pulleys are also .--,snaced correspondingtoi the spacing ofthe pulleys the crown block. With this arrangement a .substantially wide spacing. is maintained on the .rrunsrof thecable to eliminate twisting -of the .lines. The arrangement ofpulleys -also;permits ta substantially equal load on .the derrick legs since the downruns i and 52 of :the cable which depend :from the pulleys 43 and 44 are in sub- ;stantially eonformingirelation with the downruns .operating over 'the transverse pulley 42. This arrangement; of the pulleys also permitsdocation of the sand pulley 54 within the pocketilflso that .thedownrunof the'sanclline 55 iSzdilGGtlY-OVBI the center of the borehole to also provide a strai ht :pulLon the line and substantially equal distributionbf the load on the respective legs. iI'he-crown block frame may be attached -.to .the channel; members in any suitable manner.

In the (illustrated instance the 'side rails 29 and 330i the crown blockframe are provided with laterally extending lugs 56 which seat :upon :theuwebsof the channels 26 andrZ'l-and are se- .cured theretobyfasteningdevices such as bolts .51.

In order to-lenclose the pulleys, the'crownblock is providedwithacover 58 having-a plateportion 5.9 securedrto the front.-rail.-32 by-ahinge .60. The plate 59 is provided with openings registering with the respective pulleys and the openings are covered by arcuate-shaped housings 6| which-extend-over the respective pulleys and are welded to the-.plate-53 toformintegral partsof thecover. Inorder to nsecure thecover in position, theside rails .30 and-3| are provided with spring :latches 2 thatengage keepers -.6.3 mountedion the sides of thehousings that cover the-pulleys43 and*44.

-50wing=to the fact that the top of the-derrick isrelatively narrow, substantially all-of the space is ,reguired to accommodate the traveling block anddtiis 'diificultto accommodate'a tie truss between the girts at the upperends ofthederrick.

therewith as indicated at 68 and 69 so as to pro- .vide ample footing space at the corners of the derrick. The curved portions 68 and 69 are interconnected bya transverse member 10 that ex- -;tends;.crosswise:of;.the rear legs of the derrick in rearwardly spaced relation with the upper girt ,1 l. Theendsofthe curved portions of the members 66 and 61 terminate short of the path of the :downruns 5i and 52 of the tackle cable and are interconnected with the transverse member .lflby tie members 12.andl3 to cooperate ins-fram- ,1ing a notch-like opening in the platform .to pass the cables .as shown inf-1g. .2.

The .platform members justdisclosed .carrya suitable floorin 14 preferably of .a non-skid type and whichcoopcrates therewith ,in providing a rigid truss-like structure externally of .the .derrick to tie in the legs and take the stresses .that wouldnormally be applied between the .front legs of .the derrick. The crows nest also includes hand .orguard rails .75 and 1,6 locatedoverrthe-curved.portions -,of the platform. Thehand railsare also preferably -formed of tubular ,materialandhave portions 11 thatextenddaterally. outwardly .from the .front legs to connect withslightlydivcrging rearwardly extending ;portions 18 that connect-on rounding curves-or transverse rear portions '13. Theportions 19 are connected on rounding vcurves with rail portionstfl that connect with thegear .legs;on.therespectivesides of theopening inthe platform :through .which the cables operate. The rails 1.5 .and 1,6 .are connected with theplatform .by struts 8| which -.are arranged .to cooperate with the platform structure in enhancing the rigidity thereof. When :the derrick israised to an erect position on the derrick platform, .itmay be suitably guyed to :further enhance the sta- .bility thereof underheavy loads.

In-operating the tackle to raiseandlower the traveling block :35 when raising or lowering the drilling .string (not shown), theruns of the cable are substantially parallel and disposed, by reason of the location of the pulleys, so that the load is substantially uniformly applied to the respective legs of the derrick. It isalso obvious that the crows nest structure provides .forstability of the relatively compact upper portion-of the derrick andprovides a trussstructure corresponding to the trussing 10f the-lower girts-and which .at the same time adequately forms the functions of a crowsnest-during drilling Operations. The rollers l8 which .form .a ;part of the derrick supporting bracket provide guides for the jerk and cat lines and also reinforce the bracket structure.

From the foregoing it .is obvious that :I have provided ;a derrick structure which :is ,ofzstrong, ight-weight constructiongand that the :pulley :arrangement provides for substantially equal .-loa'dns of the derrickglegs.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A derrick includingispacedcornerilegs, girts interconnecting the legszat zthesside and'rearof v the derrick :to leave an open frontside in which legs in spaced relation therewith, a transverse member extending parallel with a girt connecting the rear legs and extending beyond said sides of the derrick to connect said curved portions of said, members, tie members connecting terminals of the curved portions with the transverse member, and a floor carried by said members and having an opening between said tie members to pass lines of said tackle.

2. A derrick including spaced corner legs, girts interconnecting the legs at the side and rear of the derrick to leave an open front side in which tackle is adapted to operate, platform members diverging outwardly and rearwardly from the front legs and curving rearwardly and inwardly around the rear legs in spaced relation therewith, a transverse member extending parallel with the girt connecting the rear legs and extending beyond said sides of the derrick-to connect said curved portions of said members, tie members connecting terminals of the curved portions with the transverse member, a floor connecting side and rear girts with said diverging members,

railings carried by said legs and projecting from.

the sides of the derrick over the platform, and braces connected with said diverging member at ends of the transverse member and diverging upwardly to connect with said rails.

3. A derrick including spaced corner legs, girts interconnecting the legs at the side and rear of the derrick to leave an open front side in which tackle is adapted to operate, platform members diverging outwardly and rearwardly from the front legs and curving rearwardly and inwardly around the rear legs in spaced relation therewith with ends terminating in spaced relation, a transverse member extending parallel with the girt connecting the rear legs and extending beyond said sides of the derrick to connect said curved portions of said members, tie members connecting said terminals of the curved portions with the transverse member to provide an opening therebetween for passage of lines from parts of said tackle, a floor carried by said members, railings carried by said legs and projecting from the sides of the derrick over the platform, a crown block frame carried on upper ends of the legs and having portions overhanging the open front and said opening at the rear side of the derrick, and pulleys carried by the crown block frame and positioned between the derrick legs within said overhanging portions to pass said tackle lines.

4. A derrick including corner legs, girts and sway braces connecting the legs at the sides and rear of the derrick, said legs being unconnected at the front side to provide an open faced derrick, a crown block frame carried on said legs and having a portion overhanging the front sid of the derrick, a transverse pulley journaled in front of said frame and within said overhang at the open face side of the derrick, laterally spaced pulleys journaled in the frame in parallel relation with the sides of the derrick, said pulleys having cable grooves with the cable grooves in the spaced pulleys spaced from the groove in the transverse pulley in accordance with the diameter of the transverse pulley, whereby cables operating over the'pulleys are equally spaced apart, and a sand pulley carried by the crown block frame intermediate the spaced pulleys and positioned tangentially of the axis of the hole to be drilled.

5. A derrick including corner legs, girts and sway braces connecting the legs at the sides and rear of the derrick, said legs being unconnected at the front side to provide an open faced derrick, a crown block frame carried on said legs and having portions overhanging front and rear sides of the derrick, a transverse pulley located in the overhang at the open face side of the derrick, laterally spaced pulleys positioned in the frame in parallel relation with the sides of the derrick, said pulleys having cable grooves with the cable grooves in the spaced pulleys spaced from the groove in the transverse pulley in accordance with the diameter of the transverse pulley whereby cables operating over the pulleys are substantially equally spaced apart, and a sand pulley carried by the crown block frame intermediate the spaced pulleys and positioned tangentially of the axis of the hole to be drilled.

6. A derrick including corner legs, girts, and sway braces connecting the legs at the sides and rear of the derrick, said legs being unconnected at the front side to provide an open faced derrick, a crown block frame carried on said legs and having a front portion overhanging the front open face of the derrick and a rear portion overhanging the rear side of the derrick, a transverse pulley journaled in front of said frame and within said overhang at the open face side of the derrick, laterally spaced pulleys journaled in the frame in parallel relation with sides of the derrick and having portions operating in the rear overhang of the crown block frame, said pulleys having cable grooves, with the cable grooves in the spaced pulleys spaced from the grooves in the transverse pulley whereby cables operating over the pulleys are equally spaced apart.

7. A derrick adapted for support over a bore hole and including corner legs, girts and sway braces connecting the'legs at the sides and rear of the derrick, said legs being unconnected at the front side to provide an open faced derrick, a crown block frame carried on said legs and having portions overhanging front and rear sides of the derrick, a transverse pulley located completely within the overhang at the front side and operating in a plane parallel with the front of the derrick, and laterally spaced pulleys positioned within the frame in parallel relation with the sides of the derrick, said pulleys having cable grooves with the cable grooves in the spaced pulleys spaced from the groove in the transverse pulley and the spaced pulleys being spaced apart in accordance with the diameter of the transverse pulley, said pulleys being arranged with the adjacent portions of the grooves of the respective pulleys at the horizontal diameter thereof located substantially equal distances apart whereby cables operating over the pulleys are equally spaced apart in directions parallel with the transverse pulley.

EMMETT LEE ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,502,161 Scharpenberg et a1. July 22, 1924 2,267,705 Athy Dec. 30, 1941 2,291,055 Ortloff July 28, 1942 2,293,958 Woolslayer et a1. Aug. 25, 1942 2,342,139 Gleason Feb. 22, 1 44 2,345,253 Funk Mar. 28, 1944 2,440,427 Bender Apr. 27, 1948 

